_____ Today let's address some common myths and misconceptions about the U.S. stock markets. These are very common beliefs - don't feel bad if you recognize one or more of…
IPOs seem exciting. When a familiar company announces they are going public (known as an Initial Public Offering), questions sometimes come up. A client may ask, "can I make lots…
They Can Keep Bubbles From Forming - Just Be Ready for Them! With the stock market’s historic growth that began in early 2009, many believe a 10% pullback may be…
The Stock Market Beats All Three Over Long Periods of Time Tempted to stash your money in a bank CD? Or maybe under your mattress? Think either one of them…
Weddings are a wonderful celebration and they are great for catching up with old friends. But I’ve noticed a few trends lately and I thought I would put together some…
Stock markets have been on a wild ride recently, plunging one day and then soaring the next. Pundits have offered many reasons for the biggest stock market swoon in two…
Myth: When evaluating your investments, a higher average rate of return always means you will have more money in the future. Fact: It's possible to have more money making 5%/year…
Should you incorporate any of these into your investing strategy? The January Effect The January Effect was first noticed by investment banker Sidney Wachtel in 1942 and the theory proposes…
Old age should come with a caution label for many reasons. Most of us expect to live longer than our parents or grandparents. And with longer life come difficulties –…
The IRS wants what's coming to them... Many people who have been contributing to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for years have watched their account balances grow through tax-deferred accumulation. However,…
The uphill battle against our own minds Humans like to think that every decision we make has a completely rational basis. We believe good reasons exist for the food we…
Strap on your egghead hat and let's review another reason to invest outside the U.S.! For the first half of 2017, if you invested overseas, you were rewarded more so…
Many financial advisers and pundits tell investors to take on as much investment risk as they can take. Is that always the best idea for you? Mary sits down with…
When considering whether to buy an annuity, you will likely read glowing praises from sales materials and dire warnings from some in the media. How can you evaluate this "boogeyman"…
There is no lack of ideas on what to evaluate when deciding whether to buy or sell a stock or mutual fund, whether to invest or "sit on the sidelines",…
Few investment questions stir up more debate than whether it is better to invest with managers trying to beat an index ("active managers") or better to simply track the index…
Have the movies and the media convinced you that danger lurks around every corner on Wall Street? By taking a smart approach, you can shield yourself from letting a rotten…
Do you find yourself comparing your portfolio performance to the S&P 500 and NASDAQ performance you hear in so many places? Is that the best yardstick to see if you…
Some authors and pundits believe that the retirement of Baby Boomers from the workforce will have dire consequences on the stock market since they will be selling, not buying. How…
Mutual funds are a widely popular form of investing in the financial markets, and can be found in many 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, and brokerage accounts. They can provide…